Max Anstie delivered a commanding performance in the first 250 West heat race at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, setting himself up with a prime gate pick for the main event. The heat races determined the top 18 riders for the feature program, and Anstie made sure his name was at the top of the list.

While Haiden Deegan has already wrapped up the 250 West Championship after his St. Louis victory, the battle for second place in the standings is heating up. Deegan has nothing left to prove in the final two rounds, but pride and positioning are still very much on the line for the rest of the field.

Anstie and Hunter Yoder jumped out to an early lead, with Max Vohland close behind in pursuit. The action was intense from the start, and fans were treated to some thrilling racing. Making his professional Supercross debut, Kayden Minear turned heads by slotting into fourth place early on, showing promise that had the crowd buzzing.

Levi Kitchen, meanwhile, had a slower start and found himself just outside the top five for most of the heat. But he kept his composure and made a decisive move on Lap 5, passing Rodbell to claim fifth. As the clock wound down, the top five held steady, with Anstie cruising to a comfortable 3.9-second lead over Yoder.

But the drama wasn't over. On the final lap, Minear's debut took a cruel turn when he hit the dirt and dropped all the way to 12th. The sudden change had Peacock analyst Ricky Carmichael questioning whether the AMA is checking if Minear's transponder malfunctioned—adding a layer of intrigue to an already eventful heat.

With the feature program looming, all eyes are on Anstie as he looks to carry this momentum forward. Whether you're a seasoned fan or new to the sport, Denver is proving to be a pivotal stop in the 250 West season.